One of the wealthiest and most highly ranked nobles in Tonga, Lord Fakafanua, 29, will wed a commoner on October 15.
Lord Fakafanua, Crown Princess Sinaitakala Tuku’aho’s eldest brother, will exchange vows with Fane Kite in Nuku’alofa.
Details of the impending marriage were confirmed to Kaniva News by one of his heralds in Auckland, Kula-‘i-‘Aotealoa.
The bride is the second daughter of the late Sione Kite, former Tongan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and former manager of Princess Pilolevu’s satellite company.
Kula said Fakafanua’s kāinga in Aotearoa will hold a fundraising concert tomorrow in Mangere to raise money that will be donated for the wedding.
Members of the kingdom’s nobility usually seek partners among other noble families or the royal family to ensure their social standing.
The Fakafanua line reached its highest standing connection to the royal family through Lord Fakafanua’s mother, ‘Ofeina-‘E he- Langi Fakafanua.
‘Ofeina, the late Fakafehi Tu’ipelehake’s youngest daughter, is King Tupou VI’s first cousin.
Lord Fakafanua was elected Speaker of the Tongan Parliament in 2012 and is the youngest person to hold the position.
His estates include Ma’ufanga, Faleloa in Ha’apai and Nga’akau in Tefisi, Vava’u.
Ma’ufanga is among Nuku’alofa’s wealthiest suburbs, harbouring Tonga’s
main wharf, Kuini Salote and Faua harbour. It is home to many big businesses, including night clubs, which lease premises from Lord Fakafanua.
Lord Fakafanua’s wedding follows that of his second cousins, Hon. Lupepau’u Tuita Taione and Hon. Frederica Tuita Filipe. Their weddings to commoners in 2012 drew substantial international media attention.
The main points
- One of the wealthiest and most highly ranked nobles in Tonga, Lord Fakafanua, 29, will wed a commoner on October 15.
- Lord Fakafanua, Crown Princess Sinaitakala Tuku’aho’s eldest brother, will exchange vows with Fane Kite in Nuku’alofa.
- The bride is the second daughter of the late Sione Kite, former Tongan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and former manager of Princess Pilolevu’s satellite company.
- Lord Fakafanua was elected Speaker of the Tongan Parliament in 2012 and is the youngest person to hold the position.
